Is the hadith about the creation of the universe on different days sound?

- Ibn Jarir states the following in a hadith: according to Hannad Ibn Sirri’s narration from Ibn Abbas, he said, The Jews came to the Prophet and asked him about the creation of the heavens and the earth. He gave the following answer:

"Allah created the earth on Sunday and Monday. He created the mountains and the uses they possess on Tuesday. On Wednesday, He created trees, water, cities and the cultivated barren land. These are four days.

«Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds. He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).»

"On Thursday, He created heaven. On Friday, He created the stars, the sun, the moon, and the angels, until three hours remained. In the first of these three hours He created the terms (of human life), who would live and who would die. In the second, He cast harm upon everything that is useful for mankind. And in the third, (He created) Adam and had him dwell in Paradise. He commanded Iblis to prostrate himself before Adam, and He drove Adam out of Paradise at the end of the hour."

- Christians attack Islam acting upon that hadith. How sound is that hadith?

- Ibn Kathir says it is gharib and mursal. Did the Prophet really say something like that? Will you explain it?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Ibn Kathir says “gharib” for this hadith narration (or rather, “there is something strange in it”). (Ibn Kathir, 7/167-168) This statement means the narration in question is weak in terms of the chain of narrators or meaning.

Hakim also narrated a similar hadith. (see Hakim, 2/489)

First of all, that Christians attack this hadith narration has no scientific value. They attack not only this hadith but tens of hadiths and the Quran. Therefore, their objection does not show that they are right.  

As a matter of fact, as it is stated in that hadith narration, Christians get angry again. It is clear why they are angry: They claim by imitating Jews that Allah rested on Saturday because He felt tired. As a matter of fact, the last part of the hadith shows that Jews got angry because of that:

The Prophet said, “Allah commanded Iblis to prostrate himself before Adam, and He drove Adam out of Paradise at the end of the hour on Friday.” Then, the Jews asked “What happened after that?” The Prophet (pbuh) said, “Then, Allah sat straight upon the Throne.” They said, “You would have been right, if you had finished. (That is, if you had said, “He rested” instead of “He sat straight upon the Throne”.” Then, they said, “After that, Allah rested.”

The Prophet (pbuh) got very angry with their last statement. Thereupon, the following verse was sent down:

“We created the heavens and the earth and all between them in Six Days, nor did any sense of weariness touch Us.” (Qaf, 50/38)

The last part of the hadith narration - especially the verse mentioned there – tells us that the claim of Jews and Christians “Allah felt tired and rested on Saturday” is a lie and slander.

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